JAPETH AGUILAR

Controversial amateur stalwart Japeth Aguilar remains firm with his decision not to play for Burger King in the PBA but for Smart-Gilas developmental team.

Aguilar, who arrived last Wednesday from a two-week vacation in the USA with his Chicago-based parents, ex-pro Peter and Josephine, said that he’s already practicing with the Nationals through the invitation of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

“Sa national team pa din ako, ‘yun na talaga ang decision ko,” the 6-foot-10 Aguilar told the Bulletin. “Before pa ako pumunta sa US, ‘yun na talaga ang decision ko.”

On Thursday, SBP executive director Noli Eala said that he made the invitation to Aguilar to practice with the team but only to keep him in shape. The former PBA commissioner added that they have not discussed or negotiated a contract with the player or his representative, veteran sportswriter Ronnie Nathanielsz, who is currently in the US.

While in Chicago, Illinois, where he also visited his fiancée Jessica Magley, the 23-year-old Aguilar said he vacillated between playing for Burger King or join Gilas, the all-amateur developmental team of Serbian coach Rajko Toroman.

In the end, a second tour of duty with the national team prevailed for Aguilar, who played college ball with Ateneo, as well as Western Kentucky University, a division 1 school in the US NCAA.

“Inisip ko din (Burger King), pero nakapag-decide na talaga ako,” said Aguilar, who was selected No. 1 overall by Burger King in the recent PBA Rookie Draft.

Reached for comment, PBA chairman Lito Alvarez of Burger King said that he’s still hoping for something positive to happen with the help of SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan, who is a part owner of the fast-food chain company.

However, in the event Aguilar continues to refuse to play for the Whopper, that will be the time, Alvarez said, that they will make their move and ask the PBA Commissioner’s Office and the Board of Governors to look into the matter.

“Tingnan muna natin kung ano pa ang pwedeng mangyari,” said Alvarez, who has mulled having Aguilar ‘‘banned for life’’ in the PBA.

Burger King has a standing offer to Aguilar of P8.7-million, the maximum allowable deal for a rookie in the PBA spread over three years.

Though the SBP has yet to make a formal offer to Aguilar, it has a previous proposal of a salary similar to a PBA rookie, which the player turned down last April during the training camp of Smart-Gilas in Las Vegas.